Pappajohn Donates to Des Moines

The outdoor art trend continues with Des Moines, Iowa where a big sale at Art Basel Miami Beach is going into a local sculpture park:

Venture capitalist and philanthropist John Pappajohn has purchased a 25-foot-tall sculpture by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa as the signature piece for the sculpture garden Pappajohn wants to create in Des Moines’ downtown Gateway Park.

The piece, titled “Nomade,” is being shipped to Iowa from Florida, where it appeared earlier this month in Art Basel Miami Beach, an international art show. Pappajohn purchased the sculpture shortly before the show opened for a reported $1.5 million.

Installation of it in the Gateway Park could begin as early as next week, once legal documents are approved by the Des Moines City Council on Monday.